Ukrainian drone evades Russian helicopter fire to strike oil tanker

What the report says

Ukraine has released video it says shows one of its drones flying through Russian helicopter fire before hitting a sanctioned oil tanker in the Black Sea. The footage, published by Al Jazeera on 13 September 2026, was presented as evidence of a strike on a vessel linked to the flow of Russian oil exports.

According to the report, the tanker was in the Black Sea when the drone attack occurred. The helicopter appears to have tried to intercept the drone, but the aircraft continued toward the vessel and made contact. Al Jazeera said the episode is part of a broader Ukrainian campaign aimed at ships that Kyiv argues help sustain Russia’s oil trade.

The strike matters because oil shipping has become an important pressure point in the war, with both sides seeking to disrupt the other’s logistics and revenue streams. Sanctions on Russian energy-related shipping have also added another layer to maritime security in the region.

The article did not provide an independent verification of the footage or additional details about damage, casualties, or the tanker’s current condition. As with other battlefield videos, the claims should be understood in the context of ongoing information warfare and contested accounts from the conflict.